Traditional Healing in Native Canadian Indians

Paper Summary:

The paper briefly explains the history of Canadian Indians. The writer details the pattern of death and the main diseases that affect the Canadian Indians, including lifestyle related diseases, infectious diseases and the increased number of violent deaths. The paper discusses the high rate of drug abuse, and suicides found in this group of people. The writer explains that most articles written about these issues suggest the need to increase income, education and social opportunities for Indian youth and adolescents. In conclusion, the writer states that the Indian communities have adapted and integrated both traditional and western approaches to fit their own unique sociocultural needs.

From the Paper:

"Native Aboriginal also have an increased risk for diabetes. This is probably because their original diet was low in simple carbohydrates and over the centuries, their bodies adapted to this regime. Diabetes is 4-8 times more common in Canadian Indians compared to the general Canadian population. In some Indian communities, up to half of all adults have diabetes. Indian Elders suffer from higher rates of complications from diabetes. Unfortunately, the individuals least open to the regimen of western medicine are Indian elders, making proper treatment of their diabetes more difficult. They are not able to return to the original diet of their ancestors and often die early of complications. "Also there are numerous challenges facing these same individuals, families, and communities in their struggle to reduce the harm due to substance use/abuse. Among Indian and Native people, special challenges include whether or not, and, if so, how to adapt treatment or prevention programs for use in their own communities. Another challenge is how to draw upon and incorporate cultural values, skills, and knowledge into this struggle. In addition, how to reconcile certain cultural practices, such as the ceremonial use of tobacco and peyote, with messages about harmful substance use continues to be a challenge as well. Others include how to develop self-sustaining programs once private, state, or federal support for their start-up has ended. For instance, the Wheel Council uses traditional arts like storytelling as a means to heal social problems such as racism, drug addiction, violence, economic injustice, health crises, child abuse and neglect."

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